John Wright followed up his individual success in the Cheshire County athletic championships by winning the senior event of the Liverpool & District Championships last Saturday; while Wallasey Athletic Club's boys' team similarly went from success to success in their race.
AS briefly reported in last week's issue, Wallasey's senior team came second - one point behind - in the Cheshire Championships held at Lyme Park, Disley on Saturday, January 2, Wallasey, at full strength had been confident of a team success in this event, as Macclesfield Harriers, the holders, were deprived of the services of Mike Corcoran through injury John Wright and John Wilde (East Cheshire Harriers) were quickly to the front and for four miles virtually ran side by side, but over the latter part of the race Wright asserted himself and won comfortably by approximately 60 yards.
Pete White ran extremely well to finish seventh, and he and John Wright have been chosen to represent Cheshire in the Inter-County Championships at Brighton today.
Brian Woolford ran, well to form to finish twelfth narrowly missing Cheshire selection. Ron Barlow, well off form, finished in 22nd place, closely followed by Brian Chalton 23rd, and Billy Morris 31st.
In the youth race Wallasey were not able to field the full team due to sickness, but three runners who participated as individuals all ran well - Alan Howard, 10th; Graham Wheelwright, 12th; and John Howard, 199th.
Wallasey Athletic Club have for some time been building a compact boys' team, but they showed surprising form as comfortable winners of the Boys' team championship. G. Benson ran exceptionally well to finish in third place, and was most ably supported by J. Curry, 11th; J. Morley 23rd, and B. Voller 24th.
This was the first time these boys had run together as a team. Their success augured well for the Liverpool & District Championships held on Saturday last at Wavertree Playground, and our new found faith in a boys' team was fully justified when they became the Liverpool & District Champions by defeating Liverpool Harriers (always a strong combination) by nine points. Wallasey's counting team were;
5th, J. Curry; 6th, G. Benson; 15th, G. Norton; 20th, J. Morley;22nd, D. Bibby and 24th B. Voller.
In the Senior Championship, John Wright had what was probably one of his easiest races of the season, and won by over 90 yards from J. Highton (Pembroke A.C.) P. White and B. Woolford both ran right to form to finish in third and fourth positions respectively and these three runners are obviously now the backbone of Wallasey's team in senior competition. Hugh Pritchard, who had journeyed from the North-East, ran well to finish 26th, whilst John Young, a first year junior willingly assisting the senior team finished in 49th place, a most creditable performance.
In the junior championship, Wallasey's team gained third place with a total of 47 points. The very strong Liverpool Harriers team won with 18 points. Wirral Athletic Club being second, 39 points. The event was won by Turner (Liverpool Harriers) selected to represent, Lancashire in today's Inter-County Championship. In the early stages Ron Barlow was his 'shadow' but at approximately four miles Turner quickly opened up a gap of 100 yards Phil Townsend and Brian Chalton ran strongly to finish twelfth and thirteenth, the team count being completed by Billy Morris. 20th.
In the Youth event Wallasey's team of first-year youth's .again finished In fourth place with 138 points - Alan Howard 12th, D. Duncan 18th, G. Wheelwright 21st; R. Voller, 24th; J. Howard, 30th; M. Bowers, 33rd. This race was brilliantly won by Martin Heath (Waterloo Harriers), one of England's outstanding junior milers.
Ends
Source - Wallasey news - Saturday, 16/01/1960
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